214: Resolution on the Human Rights Situation in Federal Republic of Nigeria

The African Commission on Human and
Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission), meeting at its 51st
Ordinary Session in Banjul, The Gambia, from 18 April to 2 May 2012;

Recalling its mandate to promote and
protect human and peoples’ rights in Africa pursuant to the African Charter on
Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);

Noting
Article 3(f) and
(h) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU) which states that the
objectives of the AU shall be to promote peace, security, and stability on the
continent, as well as human and peoples’ rights in accordance with the African
Charter and other relevant human rights instruments;

Considering Article
1 of the African Charter which calls on Member States to adopt legislative or
other measures to give effect to the rights and freedoms enshrined therein;

Further
Considering Article 4 of the African Charter by virtue of which human beings are inviolable,with every human being entitled to respect
for his life and the integrity of his person;

Recalling Resolution
ACHPR/RES.211 (EXT.OS/XI) 2012
on the Human Rights Situation in
Nigeria, which condemned acts of violence committed by armed groups against
citizens in Nigeria, which resulted in loss of lives, injury and destruction of
property;

Deeply
Concerned by the
acts of violence which have continued unabated;

1.Strongly
Condemns recent acts
of violence committed on 26 April 2012, in which the offices of This Day
newspaper were attacked in Abuja and Kaduna, resulting in the death of several people
and destruction of property;

2.Also
Condemns the
subsequent attack that occurred on 29 April 2012, in which gunmen attacked
worship services at Bayero University campus in the city of Kano killing at
least 16 people and wounding 22 others, and at the Church of Christ in Nigeria,
in Maiduguri, killing at least 3 people;

3.Calls
on the authors of
such indefensible acts of violence to immediately stop their attacks against
civilians;

4.Urges
the Government of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria to take all necessary measures to ensure the
protection of its civilians in accordance with its regional and
international human rights obligations; and

5.Calls
on the ECOWAS, African
Union, and the international community to support the Government of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria in its efforts to end these acts of violence.